Swimming maneuverability device

ABSTRACT

A swimming manuerverability device which assists a person in swimming, exercising, floating, maneuvering, or the like thereof in shallow and/or deep water. The swimming manuerverability device includes a base having at least one aerodynamic surface, a first restraining device for attaching the base to a user&#39;s arm, and a second restraining device for attaching the base to a user&#39;s hand. Optional buoyant material of the swimming device allows a person to swim, exercise, float, maneuver, or the like thereof in shallow water while keeping the user&#39;s head and/or upper torso out of the water. Alternatively, the base may be comprised of a ballast material to assist a user in staying below the surface of the water while maneuvering. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the base may be comprised of a neutrally buoyant material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related in general to the field of assisted swimming devices. In particular, this invention includes a base including aerodynamic surfaces, a first restraining device to secure a user's hand and arm to the base, and a second retraining device to restraint the fingers of the user's hand while swimming, exercising, maneuvering, or the like thereof while the user is in water.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Persons who are active in water often wish to have a device for providing assistance in maneuvering while optionally providing floatation support for the user while swimming. Alternatively, persons may desire to have a device that provides assistance maneuvering in deep water without the added benefit of a floatation device, or, alternatively, they may wish to have a slightly positive, a slightly negative, or a neutrally buoyant floatation device which provides aerodynamic surfaces for assisting the user while swimming. However, based on the current state of the art, most persons who swim in either shallow or deep water have few options, other than using the natural surfaces of the user's body or the possible exception of flippers or motorized devices, when seeking assistance in maneuvering their body while swimming,. Also, most persons who swim have no device that allows them to swim, exercise, maneuver, or the like thereof in shallow and deep water, other than the items indicated above. Therefore, it is desirable to have a simple device that assists a person when swimming, exercising, floating, maneuvering, or the like thereof in shallow and/or deep water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein utilizes a base, a first restraining device, and a second restraining device to assist a swimmer in maneuvering while optionally providing floatation or slightly positive, slightly negative, or neutral bouyancy. The base is defined as an aerodynamic apparatus including surface which divert the flow of water over the base when used for floating, exercising, or swimming. The first restraining device, similar to a cuff or band, is attached to the base along a first end and restrains a user's arm, effectively coupling the base to the user. The second restraining device may also include cuffs or bands or, alternatively, may be comprised of cavities formed in the base, and is designed to retrain the user's fingers, effectively coupling the base to the user's hand. The second restraining device may comprise at least one cavity for the user's thumb and/or one or more additional cavities to restrain the user's fingers. The second restraining device may also comprise an expandable material that allows for a user's thumb and finger of various sizes to be secured to the base. The base may be comprised of a variety of shapes, sizes, or colors and may include an optional ballast component. The person may attach the base to their lower arm and hand using both the first restraining device and the second restraining device.

Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced and are not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a swimming maneuverability device according to the invention including a base, a first restraining device, and a second restraining device.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the swimming maneuverability device of FIG. 1 illustrating the proper placement on a user's arm and hand.

FIG. 3 is another illustration of the swimming maneuverability device of FIG. 1, illustrating the view taken from the interior end of the base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is based on the idea of using a base having aerodynamic surfaces and optional floatation and/or ballast and at least one restraining device to attach the base to a user to assist the user in swimming, floating, exercising, maneuvering or the like thereof in the water. Referring to figures, wherein like parts are designated with the same reference numerals and symbols, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a swimming maneuverability device 100 including a base 102, a first restraining device 104, a second restraining device, a leading edge 110, and a trailing edge 112. In one embodiment of the invention, the base 102 comprises a buoyant material. Alternativley, the base 102 may comprise a slightly negative, a slightly positive, or a neutral buoyancy material. The base 102 comprises aerodynamic surfaces that divert the flow of water over the base 102 while the user travels through water to aid the user in manuevering. In one embodiment of the invention, the first restraining device 104 comprises an expandable material such as a hard plastic cuff with notches for engaging a belt latch or a fabric encapsulated springing material such as a rubber band. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIG. 1, the second restraining device comprises an indentation 106 and cavities 108. The user's palm is placed in indentation 106 and the user's thumb and/or finger are placed in cavities 108 to secure the swimming maneuverability device to the user's hand. The leading edge 110 corresponds to the edge facing the user's head and the trailing edge 112 corresponds to the edge opposite to the leading edge.

In another embodiment of the invention, the second restraining device may comprise a thumb and finger cuff or band similar to hat comprising the first restraining device. In another embodiment of the invention, the second restraining device may comprise an expandable material such as a fabric encapsulated rubber band or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, the base 102 may comprise a solid buoyant material to allow the user to float, swim, exercise, or the like thereof in shallow water While maintaining the user's head and/or upper torso above water. A person's lower arm is threaded through the first restraining device 104 in a direction towards the second restraining device to secure the swimming maneuverability device 100 to the person's lower arm. The first restraining device 104 may comprise an expandable material that allows for user' lower arms of various sizes to attach to the base. After securing the swimming device 100 to a user's lower arm, the user may further secure the swimming maneuverability device 100 to their hand with the second restraining device. In other embodiments of the invention, the user may secure the swimming maneuverability device to the user's hand by placing the user's palm in an indentation 106. In certain embodiments, the swimming device 100 is further secured by placing the thumb and finger into cavities 108 or the like, such as cuffs or bands.

In another embodiment of the invention, the base 102 comprises a non-buoyant material. In this embodiment, the swimming device 100 allows the user to simultaneously swim and maneuver through deep water, without being forced to the surface. The non-buoyant material of the swimming device 100 allows the user to stay submerged in the water. Alternatively, the base 102 may comprise a slightly positively buoyant material or a slightly negatively buoyant material. Similar to the above description, a user's lower arm is threaded through the first restraining device 104 in a direction towards the second restraining device to secure the swimming device 100 to the user's arm. The first restraining device 104 may comprise an expandable material that allows users' arms of various sizes to attach to the base. After securing the swimming device 100 to the user's arm, the user further may, optionally, secure the swimming maneuverability device 100 to the user's hand with the second restraining device. In other embodiments of the invention, the user may secure the swimming device to the user's hand by placing the user's palm in an indentation 106. Alternativley, the swimming maneuverability device 100 may be optionally secured by placing the user's thumb and finger into cavities 108.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the swimming maneuverability device 100 placed on a user's arm and hand. A user's arm is threaded through the first restraining device 104 in a direction towards the second restraining device to secure the swimming device 100 to the user's arm. After securing the swimming device 100 to the user's arm, the user further secures the swimming device 100 to the user's hand with the second restraining device. In one embodiment of the invention, the user may secure the swimming device to the user's hand by placing the user's palm in an indentation 106. In still other embodiments of the invention, the swimming maneuverability device 100 is further secured by placing the thumb and finger into cavities 108. Finally, the user may optionally curl his fingers around the end of the board so as to increase his grip on the board and keep it from floating away.

When the swimming maneuverability device 100 is secured to the user's hand and lower arm, the user may swim, float, exercise, maneuver, or the like thereof in shallow and/or deep water. In this embodiment of the invention, the user utilizes the user's thumb and small finger to steer the swimming maneuverability device 100. By rotating the user's wrist clockwise when viewed from the far end of the swimming maneuverability device 100, as illustrated by the right arm of the user in FIG. 2, the user's right thumb will push the leading edge 110 of the base 102 down and the user's little finger will pull the trailing edge 112 of the base 102 up, thus changing the flow of water over the base 102 and thus changing the aerodynamic characteristics of the swimming maneuverability device 100. Alternately, still referring the user's right arm as illustrated in FIG. 2, the user may rotate his wrist counter-clockwise, as viewed from the far end of the swimming maneuverability device 100, thus allowing the user's right thumb to pull the leading edge 110 of the swimming maneuverability device 100 up while allowing the user's right small finger to push the trailing edge of the base 102 down, again changing the aerodynamic characteristics of the swimming maneuverability device 100. If coupled with a similar but mirror-image of the swimming maneuverability device 100 placed on the user's left arm (not shown), the user may effect maneuverability in water similar to that obtained by fish, porpoises, or dolphins. This characteristic of the swimming maneuverability device 100 is especially useful when the user is partaking of water exercises.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the swimming device 100 comprising the base 102, the first restraining device 104, the leading edge 110, the trailing edge 112, a first surface 114, and a second surface 116. In this embodiment of the invention, the second surface 116 is an aerodynamic surface designed to divert the flow of water over the base while the user passes the base through the water. In this illustration of this embodiment of the invention, the first surface 114 is relatively flat allowing the user's hand and lower arm to comfortably and securely attach to the swimming device. However, the first surface 114 need not be flat. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the first surface 114 may be adapted to conform to the shape of the user's hand and/or arm and may actually assist in attaching the base 102 to the user's hand and/or arm.

Those skilled in the art of making swimming maneuverability devices may develop other embodiments of the present invention. However, the terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow. 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A swimming device, including: (a) A base, said base including an aerodynamic surface adapted to divert water, a substantially flat surface positioned opposite the aerodynamic surface, a first end positioned nearer an intended user, and a second end positioned opposite the first end; (b) A first restraining device positioned on the substantially flat surface substantially nearer the first end; and (c) A second restraining device positioned on the substantially flat surface substantially nearer the second end; wherein the aerodynamic surface and the substantially flat surface form a cross-section that is substantially concave from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the substantially flat surface is substantially rectangular, having a long axis from the first end to the second end.
 17. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein the substantially flat surface comprises an indentation approximating the shape and size of the intended user.
 18. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein the first restraining device comprises a cuff.
 19. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein the first restraining device comprises a band.
 20. The swimming device of claim 19, wherein the band comprises an elastic material.
 21. The swimming device of claim 20, wherein the band further comprises a fabric material adapted to encapsulate the elastic material.
 22. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said second restraining device comprises an indentation.
 23. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said second restraining device comprises a first cavity adapted to encapsulate the user's thumb.
 24. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said second restraining device further comprises a second cavity adapted to encapsulate at least one of the user's fingers.
 25. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said second restraining device comprises a cuff.
 26. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said second restraining device comprises a band.
 27. The swimming device of claim 26, wherein said band comprises and elastic material.
 28. The swimming device of claim 27, wherein said band further comprises a fabric material adapted to encapsulate the elastic material.
 29. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said base comprises a positively buoyant material.
 30. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said base comprises a ballast material.
 31. The swimming device of claim 16, wherein said base comprises a neutrally buoyant material. 